IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday May 18th, 2025

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This Week's News

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday May 18th, 2025
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News from the IRTS

   "IRTS Hamfest 2025" is new initiative by the IRTS. It will take place
   over the weekend of September 6th and 7th in conjunction with the IRTS
   SSB Field Day weekend. The venue for this event will be the Mullingar
   Showgrounds, Culleen, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. This is located just 6
   km from Mullingar town centre.

   The aim to bring novice and experienced people together in one place
   along with a very wide array of amateur radio equipment, technologies,
   and experience. From solo operators to clubs, we would like to extend a
   welcome to all. You are invited to come along and learn via hands-on
   practical tutorials that you can take part in or bring your
   radio-related gear to show others how to set it up correctly. Camping
   and campervan parking is available and encouraged.

   Provisions for multiple SSB stations in the spacious location are being
   catered for in the planning. Although the IRTS encourages all clubs and
   operators to come and take part, clubs can also run their usual SSB
   field day activities as in previous years. Please make a date in your
   diaries for IRTS Hamfest 2025 on September 6th and 7th at Mullingar
   Showgrounds!

   If interested in getting involved or for further information, please
   contact the team via email to hamfest /at/ irts.ie.

   The IRTS announces the appointment of a new secretary for the society.
   Andy McCarthy EI7IOB has taken on the secretary role. The IRTS would
   sincerely like to thank out-going secretary Owen O'Reilly EI4GGB for
   the massive amount of work he has done in addition to the many hours he
   has spent dedicated to the role over the past three years. Likewise,
   all in the IRTS wish Andy the very best of luck as he takes on his new
   position.

   The next IRTS committee meeting will take place on Thursday, June 5th
   at 8:00 p.m. on the Zoom platform. All IRTS affiliated clubs are
   reminded that under Rule 16.1, the members in each affiliated club,
   society, or other body may elect a representative and an alternate
   annually to attend IRTS committee meetings. Clubs wishing to send a
   representative should notify the IRTS Secretary, Andy EI7IOB at
   irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie in advance to ensure notification and links
   are provided.
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC

   The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be QRV as EI2WRC/P from the
   Old Copper Mine, Tankardstown, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford on Sunday, June
   8th, 2025. Although there has been no official European geopark
   activations in recent years, the club are pleased to announce that the
   location can be activated in the following categories: Echo India Flora
   and Fauna as EIFF-0263 Mid Waterford Coast SPA. It also it has a 2 for
   1 on POTA which are EI-0162 Mid Waterford Coast SPA and EI-0163
   Tankardstown Copper Mine.

   The old copper mine building comes in as part of the COTA-EI and has
   been assigned the COTA-EI designator EI-01566. EI2WRC look forward to
   hearing you all on HF and the SIRN on the day or you are passing by
   drop in and say hello!

   The May meeting of the EI2WRC group will take place on Monday, May 26th
   at 8 p.m. sharp at the South East Technological University. Netlabs
   Research and Innovation Building, SETU West Campus, Carriganore,
   Waterford. Eircode X91 WR86. New members or anyone that has an interest
   in amateur radio or communications in general are very welcome to come
   along. SWLs are in particular very welcome to attend also.

   For more information about EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact
   details, please see www.searg.ie
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Marconi Talk on May 26th in Dublin

   D�n Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is holding a programme of events
   linked to their exhibition on Marconi. There will be a talk by Joe
   Farley, a distinguished naval historian and former Radio Officer on
   Monday May 26th.

   Joe will share fascinating insights into the powerful role played by
   radio from 1900 to the 1950s, with an emphasis on Marconi's
   achievements and his close ties to the Kingstown/D�n Laoghaire area.
   Joe's talk on Monday 26th May will run from 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in
   the Studio Theatre, dlr Lexicon - that's Dun Laoghaire's public
   library. Everyone is welcome, and no booking is required.

   The exhibition runs until the 8th of June and celebrates the 150th
   anniversary of Marconi's birth in addition to recalling some of his
   inventions. It is well-worth a visit. Admission is free at Level 3, dlr
   Lexicon in D�n Laoghaire, A96 H283.
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South Dublin Radio Club's Amateur Radio Open Night

   South Dublin Radio Club is hosting an exciting amateur radio open night
   on Tuesday May 27th as part of Dublin Tech Week. This is a week-long
   celebration of innovation and technology, uniting tech lovers,
   professionals, and communities across the city.

   The venue is the Ballyroan Community Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin D14
   F1W1 and all are welcome. More information may be found at
   dublintechweek.com.
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VHF/Microwave Updates

   Sporadic-E season is now upon us with some good opportunities on VHF
   and above reported in recent days. A combination of this as well as
   periods of enhanced tropospheric ducting over the coming week make it
   very worthwhile to get on the bands.

   On Tuesday evening, May 20th, the RSGB 1.3GHz activity contest takes
   place. It runs from 19:00 to 21:30 UTC. The scoring is one point per
   kilometre plus a squares bonus.

   The IRTS VHF-plus management team is reviewing and updating the list of
   repeaters, gateways, and beacons listed on the IRTS website.
   Information regarding both new and off-air repeaters to help update the
   records would be most welcome via email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie.

   The team is also seeking interest from operators regarding a series of
   potential EI-led multimode activation events for the 2m, 70cm, and 23cm
   bands. If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch
   via email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie. Ideas and input regarding any
   aspect of VHF and above in EI are welcome at any stage via email to the
   same address.
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IARU Monitoring System Region 1 Newsletter

   The April edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter is
   now available for download. It starts with information regarding a
   proposal submitted to the IARU Administrative Council to revise the
   Terms of Reference of the IARU Monitoring System. Contained within the
   text is a proposal to rename the working group to the IARU Intruder
   Watch Service and expand the group's scope to include frequencies
   allocated to amateur satellites. You can learn more about the proposal
   and see what intruder signals were reported for April in the free
   newsletter.

   This can be downloaded from the Monitoring System section of the IARU
   website located at www.iaru-r1.org
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Contest Updates

   The next IRTS contest is the CW Field Day held over the weekend of the
   7th and 8th of June. This starts at 15:00 UTC on the Saturday and ends
   24 hours later. A 6-hour section is available for entry in addition to
   the full 24 hours. Good luck to all in the contest.
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Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News

   That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items
   into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are
   a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If
   you have any club events, activities, meetings, or other items of
   interest, you are very welcome to email newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the
   details. These will be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and
   printed news services. The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.

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